Model rocket camera



- [50] Fleld of Search United States Patent [72] Inventor Vernon D.Estes Penrose, Colorado 81240 [21] Appl. No. 534,968

[22] Filed May 7, 1966 [4S] Patented Nov. 3, 1970 [54] MODEL ROCKETCAMERA 13 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

' [52] U.S. 95/l2.5 [51] Int. Cl. ..G03b 29/00 95/ 12.5;

FOREIGN PATENTS 10,118 5/1897 Great Britain 3 ABSTRACT: A model rocketcamera in which alight weight cylindrical tube has a rocket propulsionmotor attached to one end and the rear end of a tubular camera at itsother end. The front end of the camera is provided with a lens and ashutter that is held in a position in which it is biased to move from afirst closed position through an open position to a second closedposition. The tube has attached to it a folded parachute and contains anejection charge that is ignited after a predetermined time that iscalculated to permit the rocket to reach its zenith by detonation of thepropulsion charge and reverse its direction. Firing of the ejectioncharge ejects the camera from the tube and releases the camera shutter.

Sheet 7 INVENTORQ VERNON D.ESTES Patented- Nov. 3,1970 7 3,537,369

Sheet ig; of s.

IINVENTOR VERNON 0 ESTES Pa en ed-"N53 3, 1970 Sheet VINVENTOR. I VERNON0. ESTES MODEL ROCKET CAMERA This invention relates to cameras, and moreparticularly to small and miniature accessory cameras for model vehiclesof a type which are adapted to take a picture while the model vehicle isin motion. The invention embodies an improved camera which is especiallyadapted for use with model rockets, with its operation being correlatedwith the operation of a model rocket. Accordingly, the camera will behereinafter referred to as a model rocket camera.

The flying of model rockets by amateur rocketeers has become a popularpastime throughout the country, and this has led to the development ofmany types of model rockets and accessories therefor. However, becauseof safety considerations, this field of amateur model rocketry hasnecessarily been limited to small, lightweight units and to the use ofstandard types of manufactured motors. The model rocket camera isadapted to be used with a common type of model rocket that is built as alightweight, tubular structure, a common size being approximately 54inches in diameter and from 6 to 12 inches long. To propel rockets ofthis type, a pyropulsive motor has been made available, which is formedas a short, cylindrical tube adapted to fit in the base or trailing endof the model rocket. This motor carries a fuel charge adapted to beejected as a sustained, high velocity jet of gas from its trailing endwith sufficient power to loft a lightweight rocket several hundred feetin the air.

In the upflight, it is desirable to have the model rocket asaerodynamically efficient as possible to produce a minimum airresistance to the driving force of the motor. However, as the modelrocket returns to earth, it is desirable and even essential to break upthis aerodynamic balance to produce as much drag as possible to reducethe speed of the model so that it will not be damaged upon impact withthe ground. It is also often desirable to provide a parachute so themodel rocket will float slowly to the earth. Accordingly, the modelrocket motors are usually designed to provide power or an impulse whichmay be used to either modify the balance of the rocket or to eject aparachute after its driving fuel charge burns out. To accomplish this, adelay charge and explosive ejection charge are located in the leadingend of the motor. This ejection charge, causing a small explosion at theleading end of the motor and into the body of the rocket, may be used toseparate portions of the rocket body and eject the parachute or thelike, and is advantageously used to actuate a model rocket camera, aswill be hereinafter described.

Such model rockets are often adapted to carry various payloads and whileit has been recognized that a very desirable payload would be a camerawhich could take an aerial photograph, conventional types of camerascommonly available are comparatively heavy, bulky and expensive andcannot be adapted for use in small model rockets. Moreover, ordinarycontrol systems for operating the shutters of a conventional camera aresimply not suitable for taking a picture when a model rocket is at thepeak of its flight, several hundred feet above the ground.

With these considerations in view, the present invention was conceivedand developed,'and comprises, in essence, a model rocket camera formedwithin a lightweight, cylindrical, tubelike member adapted to beattached to the model rocket body to form a continuation of the body ofthe rocket. This camera includes an improved, simplified shutter systemwhich is operated by a trigger extended to the connection of the camerawith the rocket body to be actuated to sctuste the shutter when therocket motor in the trailing end of the unit fires its ejection charge.Other various necessary components normally found in a conventionalcamera are also provided in a simplified lightweight form.

It follows that an object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved camera for attachment to a model rocket which is a lightweight,cylindrical unit adapted to be mounted at the leading end of a modelrocket body.

Another object of the invention is to .provide a novel and improvedmodel rocket camera which has a shutter actuating means adapted tooperate responsive to the firing of an ejection charge of a rocketmotor, and after the rocket terminates its upward flight and commencesits return to the earth, and to thereby obtain an aerial photograph at amaximum height of the rocket flight.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedcamera for a model rocket which is constructed as a lightweight,aerodynamically balanced unit which is especially adapted to be usedwith a standard size, tubular model rocket, but may also be adapted tobe used with other model vehicles with only slight modifications to itsstructure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved modelrocket camera which incorporates a simple, but reliable shutter and lenssystem, and is capable of taking clear, good quality aerial photographsat a substantial height above theground.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved modelrocket camera which may be furnished as a kit of knocked-down parts,which may be subsequently assembled into a well-formed, reliablyoperative unit without the necessity of special tools or skills, and isan excellent unit for use in various educational and manual trainingprojects.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improvedmodel rocket camera which is a low-cost, neat-appearing, simple andrugged unit, which is easy to load and unload and may be used repeatedlywithout special maintenance or care.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, all of which more fullyhereinafter appear, my invention comprises certain constructions,combinations and arrangements of parts and elements as hereinafterdescribed, defined in the appended claims and illustrated in preferredembodiments in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the body of aconventional type of a model rocket, including a motor mounted in thetrailing end of its body, a folded parachute within the body and theimproved rocket camera at the leading end, the assembly, as illustrated,being ready for a flight.

FIG. 2 is a small-scale, diagrammatic sketch wherein broken linesindicate the flight path of a model rocket as it completes its upwardmovement and commences to return to the earth, the FIG. illustrating themodel as it would appear at various positions along this flight path;first, when it is flying upwardly, then after it passes the apogee ofits flight and commences to fall at that instant when the camera androcket body commence to separate responsive to the firing of theejection charge of the motor; and finally, as the separated componentsare floating to earth by a parachute.

FIG. 3 illustrates a typical aerial photograph taken by a camera.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal view showing a fragment of the forward end ofthe rocket in section and the camera in full, similar to FIG. 1, but onan enlarged scale, and with fragments of tape bindings about the camerabeing partially unwrapped to better illustrate the manner in which thecomponents of the unit are held together.

FIG. 5 is a view of the trailing end of the camera.

FIG. 6 is a view of the leading end of the camera.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the camera per se, as takenfrom the indicated line 7-7 at FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view as taken from the indicated line8-8 at FIG. 7, but with a portion of the cover plate being removed toshow parts otherwise hidden from view.

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view as taken from the indicated line9-9 at FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view as taken from the'indicated line10-10 at FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the camera illustrating theindividual components thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the model rocket R,illustrated at FIG. 1, is exemplary of a unit which is especiallysuitable for carrying the novel, tubular rocket camera C. The body 20 ofthe rocket is formed, as an elongated, lightweight tube of cardboard orlike material. External guide fins 21 are mounted at the trailing end ofthis tube 20 to provide aerodynamic stability to the unit during flight.The trailing end of this tube also forms a natural socket for acylindrical rocket motor M, and an abutment ring 22 is glued orotherwise secured within this tube 20 at a selected distance from itstrailing end to properly hold the rocket motor M within the tube. Theleading end of the tube provides a compartment, wherein a lightweightparachute P may be folded and positioned, with the shroud lines 23 beingconnected to a holding line 25 which, in turn, is secured to the wall ofthe tube, as at 25. A wadding 26 is placed in the base of thiscompartment, between the parachute and the rocket motor. The camera C, alightweight, cylindrical unit, as will be hereinafter described, isfrictionally mounted in the leading end of the tube, to extend forwardlythereof and provide an aerodynamically balanced leading member of themodel rocket.

The motor M is a short, cylindrical, tubular shell 27 having a dischargenozzle 28 at its trailing end. This motor is loaded with threesequential burning charges. These include, first, a pyropulsive drivingcharge 29 which, when ignited at the nozzle in any suitable manner,burns and ejects a high velocity jet of gas from the nozzle. A secondcharge, a delay charge 30, is positioned forwardly of the driving chargeand is of a slow burning powder or like material adapted to provide aselected time delay period before it burns through. The third, anejection charge 31, is positioned forwardly of this delay charge and atthe leading end of the motor. When the delay charge burns through toignite the ejection charge, a sudden generation of gas pressure isdirected forwardly into the compartment within the tubular body 20 withsufficient force as to separate the camera C from the leading end of therocket body and to eject the parachute P. The waclding 26 between themotor and the parachute P prevents the ejection charge from burning theparachute.

The timing of these respective charges in the motor M is selected tofirst permit a sequence of operations, diagrammatically illustratedalong a flight path at FIG. 2. First, the rocket R is lofted to asubstantial height before the driving charge 29 burns out. Next, thedelay charge 30 burns for a period of time sufficient to permit therocket to coast to its apogee and commence its return fall to the earth.The aerodynamic form of the rocket will cause the rocket to tip as itchanges its direction of flight, with the leading nose of the rocketpointing downwardly. Then, the ejection charge is ignited to separatethe camera from the rocket, actuate the camera shutter and eject theparachute P to permit the apparatus to float to the earth without beingdamaged.

The camera C is formed as an array of axially symmetrical,

' lightweight, tubular, interlocking sections, including adomeshapedleading nose cone 3 5, a tubular lens section 36 behind the nose cone, asimilar tubular film compartment 37 behind the lens section and afrustoconical adaptor 38 behind the film compartment which terminates asa stub 39 adapted to fit into the leading end of the tubular rocket body20. Each of these sections is a thin-wall, lightweight shell, with somehaving reduced diameter lips or 'ends for snug socket-fit connectionwith ends of others, as will be further described. These components arepreferably manufactured from a thermoplastic, synthetic resin material,such as high impact styrene, by injection molding or by any similarprocedure which provides accurately formed, close fitting members. Beinga camera, it is preferable to have the components colored black toeliminate chances of stray or reflected light improperly exposing a filmwithin it.

The dome-shaped nose cone 35 includes an axially centered, circularopening 40 at its apex, the leading end of the camera, wherein acircular window 41 is fitted. The rearward edge, that is, the base ofthe dome, terminates as a short, instepped connector ring lip 42 whichfits into the leading end of the tubular lens compartment, so that theouter surface of the nose cone smoothly merges with the outercylindrical surface of the lens section 36.

The lens section 36 is a tubular, thin-wall member having a length whichmay be slightly greater than its diameter. A transversely disposedbulkhead 43 is located a short distance rearwardly of the leading edgeof this member, with the spacing from the leading edge being sufficientto accommodate a disc-shaped shutter carrier 44 sized to lie snuglywithin the cylindrical member 36 against the bulkhead 43, with itsperipheral edges being held in place by the lip 42 of the nose cone 35,as clearly illustrated at FIG. 7. The bulkhead includes a circular lightpassage aperture 45 at its axial center, and a lens 46 is mounted withinthe lens section behind the aperture. This lens is held in a short,cylindrical support ring 47 outstanding from the rearward wall of thebulkhead 43, about the aperture. To facilitate precise positioning ofthe lens within this ring, the lens 46, made of a clear plastic resin,is preferably formed as a molded, cup-shaped member, with the lensproper forming the bottornof the cup and the walls being an angle flange48 about the lens, fitting snugly into the ring 47, either with africtional fit or by gluing it into place. To complete the interior ofthe lens section 36 rearwardly of the bulkhead, the inner cylindricalwall is cased with a thin layer 49 of a resilient foam-like materialwhich effectively absorbs any stray light which may accidentally enterthis section through the lens, or otherwise.

The shutter carrier 44, a flat, disc-shaped member, includes the radialslot 50 at one side thereof which extends to and about the center of theunit to overlie the aperture 45 and has a width and curve greater thanthe diameter of the aperture to prevent interference with the lightpassing through the aperture. The carrier is also formed with a flat,rectangular, diametrically extended groove 51 between the slot and thebulkhead, wherein a shutter 52 is mounted. This shutter 52 is formed asa simple rectangular block slidably fitted into the groove having alength somewhat greater than the radius of the carrier, so that it maymove within the groove from a first position at one side of the carrier,as over the slot 50 where one end of the shutter overlaps and closes theaperture 45, and to a second position at the other side of thecarrier,where the other end of the shutter overlaps and closes the aperture. Asquare orifice 53 is formed at the center of this shutter, so thatmovement from the first position to the second position causes theorifice 53 to cross the aperture 45 and provide a momentary lightexposure through the aperture and into the lens section and into thefilm compartment, when the film is to be exposed.

The shutter 52 is. actuated by a simple spring arrangement consisting ofa rubber band 54 which pulls against a post 55 upstanding from that endof the shutter exposed to the slot, the post extending through the slotto the forward surface of the carrier disc 44 to move within the slot50, as the shutter moves in the groove. A pair of spaced anchor posts 56outstand from the forward surface of the carrier disc at cornersopposite the slot position to provide a triangular, tensed arrangementof the rubber band between these anchor posts and the shutter posts.

This shutter 52 is cocked by pulling the shutter post 55 to the edge ofthe section wall at the above described first position by a string 57connected to the shutter post 55 and extending outwardly from the lenssection 36 through a narrow slot 58 at the leading edge of the section.The string 57 is adapted to be extended rearwardly along the outer wallof the lens section, the film compartment, and to a side slot 59 in thestub of the adaptor, where it is frictionally held in place undertension by mounting the adaptor to the end of the rocket tube 20. Asudden release of the string is effected by separation of the camerafrom the rocket tube, and this permits the shutter to snap from thefirst position to the second position, to bring the post 55 to thecenter of the carrier and with an exposure occurring when the orifice 50moves past the aperture 45. Rubber bands of various sizes of uniformmanufacture are available, and such bands form an exceedingly simple andsurprisingly well timed'spring system for the shutter. The factors oftiming an exposure depends upon the weight of the shutter,

the size of the aperture, the size of the orifice and the strength ofthe rubber band, all of which may be determined by simple I calculationsor trial exposure tests.

The film compartment 37 is a tubular, thin-wall shell having a lengthapproximately the same as its diameter. It is adapted to hold adisc-shaped film 60 and is normally closed at each end to prevent accessof light to the film, the closure at the forward end being a light lockslide 61, which is removed when the film is to be exposed to light bythe shutter.

The front end of the compartment tube 37 includes a reduced diameter lip62 adapted to snugly fit into the rear end of the lens section 36 tointerconnect the members. However, one side of this lip is cut away, asat 62a, to receive the light lock slide 61. The slide 61 is a flat,thin, metallic plate adapted to be inserted into the side of thesection, at the base of the lip, the slide being formed to fit withinthe tube, with one portion extending outwardly from the cutaway 62a, andhaving suitable finger catches 63 to facilitate removing it from itsinserted position.

The slide is held in position in a socket formed at one side by anangle-shaped abutment ring 64 fitted within the forward portion of thelip 62. This ring 64 has an inturned flange whose rearward surfacesupports the forward face of the lock slide 61. Also, the sidewall ofthat portion of the ring 64 at the lip cutaway 62a is increased inthickness, as at 64a, to provide a continuous outer cylindrical surfaceat the lip to assure a snug fit into the end of the lens section 36. Theother side of the socket is formed by an annular lip ring 65 extendinginwardly from the inner wall of the compartment shell 37 immediatelybehind and adjacent to the flange of the abutment ring 64, with thespacing between the two being sufficient to snugly receive the slide 61.To further enhance the snugness of the fit of the slide between thisring 65 and the flange 64 an annular socket is provided in the ring, anda pad ring 66 of resilient material, such as felt, is mounted in thesocket to normally bear against the rearward face of the slide but tocontact the flange ring 64 whenever the light lock slide 61 is removed.To further provide a snug, tightly abutted fit of the lens section 36and the film compartment 37 when they are interconnected, a segmentedoffset 67 is formed in the rear edge of the lens section which providesa slotlike clearance for removal of the light lock slide.

A narrow film holding ring 68 is connected to the rearward end of thecompartment tube 37, the tube including a rearwardly extended lip 69adapted to snugly fit within the film holding ring 68, so that the outersurfaces of the tube and the ring are of the same diameter. The ring 68includes a rearwardly extended, reduced diameter lip 70 having ashoulder 70a within the ring, whereon the film disc 60 is seated. Thefilm disc 60 is thus adapted to fit within the holder ring 68 againstthis shoulder 70a and with the rearward end of the lip 69 of thecompartment tube extending into the ring and abutting against the filmedge to snugly hold it in position.

The rear end of the film compartment is closed by a narrow cover ring71'having a central, transverse diaphragm 72. This cover ring 71 isfitted upon the film ring lip 70 to complete the film holdingcompartment.

The adaptor 38 constituting the rear end of this camera C is formed as athin-wall shell. It includes a narrow ring 73 having a diameter the sameas the diameter of the cover ring of the lens compartment. A lip 74extends forwardly of the ring 73 and is adapted to fit into the rearwardend of the cover ring\7l to connect the two members together. Atruncated cone 75 reduces the diameter of the adaptor to the diameter ofthe body tube 20 of the rocket R, whereon the camera will be mounted.The connector stub 39 extends rearwardly from the apex end of thistruncated cone 75 to complete the adaptor. The diameter of the stub issmaller than the diameter of the end of the cone to form a shoulder 76having a width approximately the thickness of the shell of the rocketbody tube 20. This adaptor stub 39 includes the slot 59, heretoforementioned, and a hole 77 at its rear end to receive a small eyelet 78for connection of the unit with the string 25 connected to the rocketbody.

in assembly of this unit, it is anticipated that the film compartment 37will be first assembled as a unit, separate from the remainder of thecamera components. This is to facilitate the loading and removal of filmdiscs 60, which must be done in a dark environment. in actual'use, it isconvenient to have extra film compartments where a number of picturesare to be taken with the model rocket at any one time. in attaching thefilm holding ring 68 and the rear cover ring 71 to the film compartmentshell 37, it is desirable to secure the rings together with a removablecellulose type mastic tape, such as Scotch Tape, at the connectivepoints of the components. it is also desirable to interconnect the othercomponents in the same manner. In order to provide as smooth an outersurface as possible, the diameter of the several rings and of the tubes36 and 37 adjacent to the connecting sections may be slightly reduced tocompensate for the thickness of the tape. The connection of the nosecone to the shutter compartment may be likewise or it may also be of amore permanent nature, since removal of the nose cone to replace therubber band 54 or a frayed string 57, or to clean the windows and lens,will be much less frequent than disconnection of the film compartmentfrom the shutter section.

Operation of the unit is a simple matter. The film holding ring 68 isfirst separated from the film compartment tube 37 in a darkroom and isloaded with a film disc 60. Next, the lens section 36 and the adaptor 38are connected to the assembled, closed film compartment 37. Next, thecamera is attached to the string 25 and is mounted upon a model rocket Rloaded with a motor and a parachute. ln mounting the camera upon therocket, the string 57 is pulled to place the shutter in the "onposition, the shutter string being threaded through the slot 56 in theadaptor stub 39 and held under tension until the adaptor stub is fullyinserted into the body of the rocket. A rocket body 20 is necessarilysized so that the fit with the camera stub 39 will be snug and will holdthe string 57 in place. However, if necessary, short lengths of tape maybe placed in the end of the rocket body to produce the necessary snugfit. With the unit prepared for flight, as in the manner illustrated atFIG. 1, the final step is to remove the light cover plate 61, so thataction of the shutter will permit the film to be exposed. Upontermination of a flight, the light cover plate 61 is reinserted and thefilm holding section removed from the other sections and thence to adarkroom where the film may be developed.

-l have now described my invention in considerable detail; however, itis obvious that others skilled in the art can build and devise alternateand equivalent constructions which are nevertheless within the spiritand scope of my invention. Hence, I desire that my protection belimited, not by the constructions illustrated and described, but only bythe proper scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. In combination, a rocket vehicle adapted to be driven by a motor of atype having a pyropropulsive charge ejected from the trailing end of therocket vehicle; a camera releasably mounted upon the forward end of saidrocket vehicle, with its lens directed forwardly with respect to thedirection of travel of said rocket vehicle, a forwardly directedejection charge contained within said rocket vehicle and located so thatwhen ignited said camera is ejected from said rocket vehicle; means toignite said ejection charge at a predetermined period of time after thedriving charge is expended and the rocket vehicle passes its apogee andhas reversed its direction of forward travel; said camera having ashutter and a shutter operating means adapted to be biased to cock theshutter and be released from the bias to operate said shutter; and meansassociated with said rocket vehicle adapted to hold said shutteroperating means at its biased position and to release the same from thebiased position; means responsive to the ignition of said forwardlydirected ejection charge to effect ejection of said camera from saidholding means; and means responsive to the ignition of said forwardlydirected ejection charge for effecting simultaneously with the releaseof said camera from said holding means the release of said shutteroperating means from its biased position.

2. in combination, a camera adapted to be mounted upon the forward endof a rocket vehicle adapted to be driven by a the trailing end of therocket and including a forwardly directed ejection charge to disconnectthe camera from the rocket which actuates after the driving charge isexpended and the rocket passes its apogee and commences to fall, saidcamera having a shutter and a shutter-operating means adapted to bebiased to cock the shutter and to be released from the bias to operatethe shutter, and means associated with the vehicle adapted to hold theshutter operating means at its biased position responsive to theoperation of the forwardly directed ejection charge of the modelvehicles motor and as the camera is disconnected from the rocket, saidrocket and said camera being formed as generally cylindrical members,the camera having a tubular stub adapted to be slidably inserted intothe leading end of the rocket body with a moderate frictional fitsufficient to hold the camera in place upon the tube in normal flight,but to be separated fromthe rocket tube by action of the ejectioncharge.

3. in the organization set forth in claim 2, wherein said shutteractuating means is associated with the rocket body tube to be biasedwhen the camera is inserted into the tube and to be released when thecamera is ejected from the tube.

'4. in the combination set forth in claim 2, wherein the camera shutteris spring loaded, and has a pull string attached thereto, said stringbeing adapted to be pulled to bias the shutter and adapted to be heldagainst the said stub when the stub is inserted into the rocket bodywhile pulling the shutter, and to be released when the camera isseparated from the rocket vehicle.

5. In the combination set forth in claim 2, including a connectingstring adapted to hold the camera and rocket body after separation and afolded parachute within the rocket body adapted to be ejected uponseparation of the camera from the rocket body to thereby open andrestrict the speed of fall of the members to the ground.

.6. In the organization set forth in claim 1, wherein said camera isformed generally as a hollow structure, and includmg:

a. a leading nose cone having an optic opening therein;

b. a lens section optically cooperating with the opening, in-

cluding a transverse bulkhead wall with an aperture therethrough and aresiliently biased shutter traversing the aperture adapted to normallyclose the aperture and to be moved from a first position to a biasedposition and to return to the first position when released and tomomentarily open and again close the aperture;

c. a closed film retaining compartment extending rearwardly from thelens section as a continuation thereof, with said stub being rearwardlyof the film retaining compartment; and

d. a shutter actuating means connected to the shutter and adapted to beheld by the vehicle and tensed to cock the shutter to its biasedposition, but to be released responsive to reparation of the camera fromthe rocket body.

7. The camera defined in claim 6, wherein said components areinterlocked by a lip at the end of one component snugly fitting into theend of another component.

8. The camera defined in claim 6, wherein said lens is mounted upon thebulkhead wall and said mounting includes a support ring outstanding fromthe bulkhead about the aperture adapted to receivethe lens, and a sideflange about the lens adapted to snugly fit within the ring.

9. The camera defined in claim 6, wherein said shutter means includes acarrier disc adapted to be mounted against the bulkhead wall having anopening therethrough adapted to permit uninterrupted passage of lightfrom the window and through the aperture, a diametrical groove in thedisc, a shutter block within the groove having an orifice at its centerand a length such that it may be moved to one side of the disc, with oneend thereof covering the aperture, and to the other side of the disc,with the other end thereof covering the aperture, and with the orificeregistering with the aperture during such movement, and resilient meansadapted to urge the slide to one side of the disc.

10. A rocket vehicle, a camera adapted to be mounted upon said rocketvehicle for ejection therefrom at a selected phase of said rocketvehicle travel, said camera having a shutter and a shutter operatingmeans adapted to be biased to cock the shutter and to be released fromthe bias to operate the shutter;

a holding means associated with the rocket vehicle adapted to hold thecamera and the shutter operating means at its biased position whenmounted upon the vehicle; and

ejecting means associated with the rocket vehicle, operative at saidselected phase of travel of the rocket vehicle to eject the camera fromthe holding means and rocket vehicle and simultaneously therewithrelease the shutter from its bias to operate the camera.

11. in the combination defined in claim 10 wherein said rocket vehicleis an airborne rocket and said ejecting means is designed to operateafter the rocket passes its apogee of flight.

12. In the combination defined in claim 10 wherein said rocket vehicleis a tubular rocket having a pyropulsive type motor at the trailing endthereof to eject a driving charge therefrom and said holding meanscarries the camera at the forward end of the rocket vehicle; saidejecting means consists of a delay means and a forwardly directedejection charge designed to be actuated a short period of time after thedriving charge is expended and the rocket passes its apogee of flight vand commences to fall, said camera having its lens directed forwardlywhereby to take a picture of the ground below the instant the camera isseparated from the rocket vehicle and the shutter is operated.

13. in combination, a camera detachably mounted upon the forward end ofa rocket vehicle adapted to be driven by a motor of a type having apyropulsive charge ejected from the trailing end of a rocket vehicle, anejection charge at the forward end of the rocket vehicle, and means foractuating said ejection charge after the driving charge is expended, therocket vehicle passes its apogee of flight and commences to fall;

said camera having a shutter and a shutter operating means adapted to bebiased to cock the shutter and to be released from the bias to operatethe shutter; and

means associated with the rocket vehicle adapted to hold the shutteroperating means to its biased position and to release the same from thebiased position responsive to and substantially simultaneously with theoperation of said ejection charge.

